Around 8pm police were called to an incident between the Princes Highway and Emerson Road turnoffs near Dapto.

Inspector Brian Wyver from Wollongong police said a male had been struck by a truck and died at the scene.

Insp Wyver said it was believed the man had stopped his black BMW four-wheel drive on the motorway shoulder, before walking onto the road and into the path of an oncoming semi-trailer.

Police found the motor of the four-wheel drive running.

Preliminary investigations had found no fault with the vehicle, and could not offer any explanation as to why the man had exited his car, according to Insp Wyver.

The man was hit by the truck’s front left side, and was thrown some distance by the impact.

Insp Wyver said the victim was believed to reside in Sydney.

Police said the driver of the truck returned negative results after alcohol and drug tests.

Northbound lanes on the Princes Motorway were closed for several hours on Thursday night, as police diverted traffic to the Princes Highway.

Inspector Wyver said crash teams from Sydney and Lake Illawarra were investigating the incident, and expected the road to remain closed until midnight.